County issues disaster declaration; rolling blackpouts begin

Feb 15, 2021

The snow has ended, but the National Weather Service is forecasting extreme cold through Tuesday morning. They also have a Wind Chill and Hard Freeze warnings in effect until noon Tuesday.

Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney signed a disaster declaration Sunday night. The declaration is in effect for seven days.

Monday, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the governing body that oversees the electric grid in Texas, has instructed utilities to begin rotating outages, which are controlled, temporary interruptions of electrical service that rotate through different parts of the electric grid. During this time, conservation remains critical and ERCOT continues to urge all Texans to limit and reduce their electric use as much as possible. Rotating outages typically last 15-45 minutes in each area but may vary. These outages have been proven effective at protecting the electric grid during times of incredibly high electric demand and low supply.

Customers can help by taking the following conservation steps. Given the prolonged, below-freezing temperatures, conservation measures should be implemented safely and within reason.

-- Turn down thermostats to 68-degrees.

-- Close shades and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.

-- Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances.

-- Avoid using large appliances (i.e., ovens, washing machines, etc.).

-- Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.

-- Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.